back in Tokyo
the journal of Michael Werneburg
twenty-seven years and one million words
Well all good things must come to an end. Today we returned to Tokyo.
Wait, did I say that right? In any event, our brief visit is over and we're back to the normal routine. A couple of things went right for us on this voyage.
First of all—and this may seem small to anyone not used to traveling with small children, but trust me it's not—the airport in Hong Kong allows you to check in at the city end of the airport express train. That means that once you've arrived at the airport, your luggage is already checked in, you have your boarding passes, and you've only got to get through the security gate.
To digress a bit: Hong Kong is a city that is these days warily eyeing a nascant rival in Shanghai. Just today I saw an article on the cover of the English newspaper in HK crowing that Beijing had allowed Shanghai to have only a "small" Disneyland. Small meant, and they took pains to make this clear, "smaller than the one in HK". But HK shouldn't be worrying. It should instead be focusing on the little things like the incredibly useful check-in described above. It's the sort of thing that really pleases a harried visitor, and to my mind Shanghai simply doesn't have that sort of touch. At all.
Back on point, the weather cooperated nicely with a smooth flight and a pleasant 16oC temperature upon arrival. Aside from Kenny's brief disappearance during the flight, we were otherwise unmolested throughout.
But it was the train ride into the city that was particularly good. We had, for the first time, one of the new Narita Express trains. What a difference over the old ones. Whereas the old trains have cumbersome luggage compartments that never seem to close properly, this one had a simply shelf that allowed for easier access while providing more space. The windows were larger, and the ceiling lights substantially brighter. But it was the seats that really set this train apart.
Plush, sculpted seats don't belong on trains. The seats on this new train were less padded than the old ones, and were therefore more comfortable. They reclined more, provide a LOT more leg room, and have adjustable head rests (something I find important, being a lumbering 196cm tall). And they also have power jacks! Each and every seat lets you plug in a charger for your mobile phone or music device, or even to use a laptop without exhausting the battery.
Nice work, Japan Rail, a big improvement to an already good service.
We got home to find our aquarium in good shape. In fact, the fish looked healthier than they had when we left. And in using one of the (affordable, purchased in HK) NH3/NH4 tests, I learned that the days without food had been good for the chemistry of the tank—the ammonia was nil! Yay.